MOGMJBingham
JOHN WILLIAM BINGHAM 1867-1922
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1918-1919
BIOGRAPHY
From Missouri Lodge of Research:
John Bingham was born December 14, 1867 on a farm in Livingston County, Mo., near the city of Chillicothe. As a young man he attend the county schools and later Humphreys College, Humphreys, Mo. He graduated in 1888 and entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, finishing the course in three years. From there he went to the University of Missouri, Columbia, taking a special course in mathematics. In the fall of 1891 he became the superintendent of the public schools in Lancaster, Mo. Through the pursuation of Judge Higbee and Judge Shelton in entered law school at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1895. The following August he began practice in Milan, Mo.
On August 1, 1897 he married Miss Martha Simmering of Milan, and they were the parents of two children, Noel M and Dorothy M.
Brother Bingham was initiated in Lodge of Love No 259, Lancaster, Mo., October 15, 1892, passed November 13 and raised December 7 of that year. On May 19, 1894 he affiliated with Seaman Lodge No 126, Milan and was Master in 1918. He was named Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge in 1909 and he became Grand Master in 1918. During the later years of his life his health failed and even at the time he was Grand Master he was unable to carry out the duties of his office, loyal friends attending to that part of the work for him. Shortly after Grand Lodge he removed to Bolivar, Mo.
His death occurred at Milan, Mo., July 11, 1922, Masonic services were conducted July 13, 1922, but because of high water no trains were operating between Kansas City and Milan for several days and Grand Master Lucas and many others were unable to attend. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery at Milan.
